Home appliance



sept. 1o, 1963 Filed Sept. 14, 1960 Jv E. KRUG ETAL HOME APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANIMH Sept. 10, 1963 J. E. KRUG ETAI. 3,103,109

HOME APPLIANCE Filed sept. 14. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I EL, il*

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,103,109 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 3,103,109 HOME APPLIAN CE John E. Krug and Earl F. Hubacker, Evansville, Ind., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 56,024 Claims. (Cl. 62-419) This invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus.

In certain types of refrigerati-ng `apparatus such as refrigerators having both an 4above freezing storage or refrigerator compartment and a below freezing storage or freezer compartment, it is customary to provide refrigerating means such as refrigerant evaporators for cooling each of these compartments separately. It has been proposed to provide a single evaporator structure :for cooling the two compartment-s to different temperatures. In the apparatus of this invention improved single refrigerating means are provided for ycooling both compartments in an eliicient manner. `One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved refrigerating apparatus in which rst and second fluid passages are provided with a refrigerating means icooling the first passage to a lower temperature than the second passage.

A further feature of the invention is -to provide an improved apparatus of the above type having first and second `blower chambers communicating with respective first and second passages in combination with a rotatable blower having separate elements in each of said chambers for propelling air in separa-te streams therethrough.

A further feature of ythe invention is to provide an improved refrigerating apparatus comprising separate relatively low temperature and relatively -high temperature chambers, a structural element between lthese chambers separating the chambers from each other, means forming a first fluid passage in said element, means forming a second -fluid passage in said element, a refrigerating means lassociated with the element for cooling the one fluid. passage to a lower temperature than the other fluid passage and means for propelling'fluid through said passages -and into the respective chambers.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodi ment of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary vertical section through a refrigerator-freezer of the domestic type embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially `along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detailed view in elevation of one side of the blower of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a reduced sectional View taken substantially along line `44 of FIGURE 2.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings the apparatus is a two temperature refrigerator 10 having an upper fi-rst compartment 11 for storing fresh foods and the like at an Iabove freezing temperature and a lower or second ycompartment 12 for storing frozen foods and the like. The two storage compartments 11 and 12 are formed from a single liner 13 that is insulated on the top, rear and sides by the usual insulation as indicated at 14 with the two compartments being closed by the customary insulated doors 15 and 16.

Serving to separate the first and second compartments 11 and 12 is a structural element 17 arranged substantially horizontally. This element 17 contains a first air passage 18 at the upper portion thereof and a second `air passage 19 therebeneath. The air passages 18 and 19 have a common dividing wall 20 of aluminum or other `heat conducting material `while the other side of the second passage 19 has a Similar heat conducting wall 21.

The wall 20 is provided with spaced bafes 22 on top of which rests a sheet 23` of a plastic material, such as polystyrene, defining the ltop of the rst air passage 18. The front of the element 17 or the edge `adjacent the doors 15 `and 16 .is provided with an air deliector plate 24 and forwardly thereof with a decorative cover plate 25 enclosing the plate 24. The vforward edge of the bottom wall 21 is spaced from [the air deector plate 24 to provide an air inlet 26 which is bounded on the bottom by `a rear horizontal edge portion 27 of the decorative plate 25 and on its top by trim strip 28 attached to the bottom of the forward edge of the wall 21. Located within the second `air passage 19 and adjacent the bottom of the wall 20 `are the tubes '29 of a refrigerant evaporator 3) having parallel fins 31 of the `customary type `extending between the top and bottom walls 20 and 21 as `shown in FIG- URE 2.

The sheet 23 has its side and rear edges adjacent the liner 13 with its front edge joined to the decorative plate 25. The side edges 32 are recessed as shown in FIG- URES 2 `and 4 in order to provide side air passages 33 through which air may flow from the upper or first chamber 11 into the first `air passage 18.

Press fitted within grooves 34 extending downwardly within the bottom wall 21 of the second passage 19 is a single tinsel wire heater 35 for defrosting purposes. Grooves 34 are embossed in plate 21 and .are preferably sinusoidal.

The structural element 17 carries on its rear portion rearwardly of the evaporator 30 a blower housing 36. This housing is secured to the back of the liner 13 by means of a flange 37 and to the rear edge portion of bottom wall 21 by means of the flange 38. The housing 36 includes a downwardly and rearwardly extending air passage 39 formed by the vertical Walls of ya conduit 40 which is joined at its bottom to la rearwardly extending conduit 41. The two conduits 40 and 41 are joined to form the downwardly and rearwardly extending air passage 39. The conduit 41 rearwardly of lthe conduit 40 is essentially circular and is formed integrally with a generally cylindrical forward portion 42 of 4the housing 36. The housing 36 has a Secondary scroll element defined by -member 43 which is located below ange 38.

A double inlet blower wheel 44 is located within the scroll portion 42. This blower wheel 44 includes a generally -circular divided plate 45 which is provided with a tubular section `46 extending forwardly of the plate 45. This tubular portion 46 extends forwardly to within the horizontal conduit 41 forming the bottom and rear end of the passage 39. This tube 46 communicates through a rear opening 47 with the portion ofthe scroll rearwardly of the `divider plate 45. Y

A. first series of scoop shaped vanes 481 is located on the front of the divider plate 45 within the scroll portion 42 while -a similar set of -vanes 49 is located on the rear surface of the divider plate 45. The vanes 48 and 49 are of similar shape and the rear vanes 49 are shown in detail in FIGURE 3. The blower wheel 44 is rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow 50 in FIGURE 3.

The rear portion of the blower wheel 44 including the rear vanes 49 is `enclosed by a shroud 51 which is recessed into the insulation 14. As is indicated in FIGURE 1, this shroud`51 extends from a point below the rear edge of the blower wheel 44 upwardly along the rear of .the structural element 17 yand to adjacent the top of the freezer first compartment 12. The space between the shroud 51 and the liner 13 provides an air passage 53.

The scroll portion 42 defines the rear portion of the second air passage 19 and is provided with a plurali-ty of openings 54 in its forward Vwall `so that air :may iiow from the second air passage 19 -into the scroll portion 42. ln

order to provide for air flow from the first passage 18, the Wall 20 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 55 that is telescopically received within the upper edge of the conduit 40 to provide an air opening 56 into this conduit 40.

The blower wheel 44 is mounted on a shaft 57 that extends through the rear of the shroud 51. The shaft 57 is rotated by an electric motor 58 located Within the insulation 14.

The heater wire 35 in the bottom wall 21 is used for periodic defrosting and is operated at timed intervals in the customary manner to provide for automatic defrosting. Because the bottom wall 21, the top walll 20 and the fins 31 are of heat conducting material heat from these wires readily -defrosts all portions of the structure. The defrost water from within Ithe passage 18 flows down the plate 20 and through a drain opening 59 that includes a vertical pipe 59a extending between the top wall 20 and bottom wall 21. From the bottom of the pipe 59a the water flows through an opening 65 into a sump 66 which when filled with water causes the water to flow over the top surface of the bottom wall 21 and out the conduit 60 for disposal in the customary manner. The provision of the sump 66 prevents mingling of air streams in passages 18 and 19 as the water (not shown) remaining `in sump 66 results in an ice plug forming .therein when the apparatus is operating in its normal manner so that this ice plug blocks ythe opening 65. In this regard it should be noted that the top of this opening 65 is beneath the top of the sump 66. The actual defrosting apparatus and its operation are pure-ly conventional and for that reason are not further illustrated.

The operation of the refrigerating apparatus is as fo-llows. With the motor 58 operating the blower wheel 44 in the manner described, air within the first compartment 11 is drawn through the side openings 33 into the first air .passage 18. The air is drawn through a path directed by the baffles 22 having a plurality of openings 61 into rear yair opening 56. The air flows through this opening and downwardly in air passage 39. From the bottom of this lair passage the air is drawn rearwardly through the tube 46 to the rear side of the divider plate 45. This flow of yair is set up Iby the rotating varies 49. These rotating vanes propel the air outwardly within the shroud 51 and then upwardly to the top of the shroud 51. The air then flows forwardly through the top opening 52 in the passage 53 and back into the first compartment 11 to be recirculated through the cooling passage 18.

While the air from the first compartment 11 is flowing i ,through the fair passage 18 it gives up heat to the cold passage wall 20 and then to the evaporator 30 therebeneath. However, as this air does not directly contact the evaporator it is cooled only to an above freezing temperature so :that the compartment or chamber 11 may be used for the storage of fresh food.

The rotation of the blower wheel 44 causes the air in the second compartment 12 to be drawn through the open-ing 26 into the forward end of the secon-d air passage 19. The .air is then drawn rearwardly in this passage 19 in direct contact with the evaporator tubes 29 and the fins 31 where it is chilled to a below freezing temperature. The air then flows around the conduits 40 `and 41 and :through the openings 54 into the scroll portion 42. The rotating vanes 48 then propel the air downwardly through an opening 62 in the bottom of the scroll portion 42 and back into the second compartment or chamber 12 to complete the circuit.

Thus, with this invention a single evaporator 30 is used to cool .both the above freezing chamber 11 and the lbelow freezing chamber 12. Furthermore, the evaporator and the necessary 4air passages are located in a structural element 17 Which is used to separate the two chambers. In addition, this structural element 17 also carries the blower 44 which propels the air not only through -the fpassages for cooling but also directs it through the two compartments 11 and 12. The structural element 17 being a self-contained unit may be located as desired within the apparatus to define the dimensions of the two chambers and if desired more than one such element may be used.

The bafhes 22 cause air to be distributed over the upper wall 20 for better heat transfer.

The structure of this invention results in a less than normal deposition of frost. This is true because the only air that contacts the evaporator 30 directly is relatively dry air from the freezer or second chamber 12. The air from the above freezing chamber 11 which is relatively moist does not directly contact the evaporator as this air is confined to the passage 18 during the cooling of this air. This also results in the air in the chamber 11 being relatively humid at all times as it is not d-ehumidiiied by the heavy deposition of frost therefrom so that food kept within the chamber 11 is maintained in a much fresher condition than where the air contacts the evaporator direotly.

The blower `wheel 44 operates as a single blower to move two separate streams of air and to prevent the streams of a-ir from substantial intermingling. This permits a more compact .construction so that the operating pants except the motor 58 are easily mounted on the structural element 17.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2, air entering the openings 33 for flow into the upper passage 18 scrubs the adjacent sides of the inner liner 413 in the areas adjacent the structural element 17.- This aids in preventing the accumulation of frost on this portion of the liner 13 which would normally occur because of this portion of the liner being cooled more than other portions of the liner vby reasons of heat conduction through the metal parts to the evaporator B0.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

l. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: a structural element; means including a conductive plate forming a first fluid passage in said element; means including said plate forming a second fluid passage in said element; a refrigerating means in thermal transfer association with said passages for cooling said first passage to a subfreezing temperature and said second passage to an abovefreezing temperature; and a housing carried on said structural element defining two blower chambers communicating respectively with said first and second fluid passages.

2. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: insulative wall means defining a space to be refrigerated; and a unitary assembly installed `as a unit in said space to dividefhe space into two portions, said assembly including a structural element, means forming a first fluid passage in said element, means forming a second fluid passage in said element, said passages being in thermal conducting relationship with each other, refrigerating means in said first passage in thermal conducting relationship with said second passage, means carried by said structural element forming a first blower chamber, a first blower in said first blower chamber, means carried by said structural element forming a second blower chamber in said element communicating with said second passage, a second blower in said second blower chamber, and a motor carried in said wall means and provided with a shaft carrying each of said blowers.

3. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: a structural element; means forming a first air passage in said element; means forming a second air passage in said element, said passages being in thermal conducting relationship with each other; a refrigeranting means associated with said element for cooling said first passage to a lower temperature than said second passage; means forming a first blower chamber in said element communicating with said first passage; means forming a second blower chamber in said element adjacent said first blower chamber communicating with said second passage; and a rotatable blower located in said first and second blower chambers including first blower elements in said first blower chamber for propelling air therethrough, second blower elements in said second blower chamber for propelling air therethrough and a dividing element separating said first and second blower chambers to prevent substantial mixing of air therebetween.

4. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: a structural element; means forming a first air passage in said element; means forming a second air passage in said element, said passages being in thermal conducting relationship with each other; a refrigerating means in said first passage for cooling said first passage to a lower temperature than said second passage; means forming a first blower chamber in said element communicating with said first passage; means forming a second blower chamber in said element adjacent said first blower chamber communicating with said second passage; and a rotatable blower located in said first and second blower chambers including a dividing element separating said first and second blower chambers to prevent substantial mixing of air therebetween, first blower elements on said dividing element in said first blower chamber for propelling air therethrough, second blower elements on said dividing element in said second blower chamber for propelling air therethrough and an air conduit communicating with said second air passage and extending through said first blower chamber and said dividing element into said second blower passage.

5. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: means forming a relatively low temperature first chamber; means forming a relatively high temperature second chamber; a structural element between said chambers separating said chambers from each other; means forming a first air passage in said element communicating with said first chamber; means forming a second air passage in said element communicating with said second chamber; a refrigerating means associated with said element for cooling said first passage to a lower temperature than said second passage; first means integrally associated with said element for moving fiuid through said first passage and through said first chamber; second means integrally associated with said element for moving iiuid through said second passage and through said second chamber; and a single drive means integrally associated with each of said fluid moving means for operating said rst and second fluid moving means concurrently.

6. Refrigerating appanatus, comprising: means forming a relatively low temperature first chamber; means forming a relatively high temperature second chamber; ,a structural element between said chambers separating said chambers from each other; means forming a first air passage in said element communicating with said first chamber; means forming a second air passage in said element communicating with said second chamber; means forming a first blower chamber in said element communicating with said first passage :and with said first chamber; a first blower in said first blower chamber; means forming -a second blower chamber in said element communicating with said second passage land with said second chamber; la second blower in said second blower chamber; a single drive means for operating said blowers concurrently; and a refrigerating means in said first passage in thermal conducting relationship with said second passage for cooling said first passage to a lower tempenature than said second passage.

7. Relirigerating apparatus, comprising: means form- 6 ing a relatively low temperature first chamber; mean forming a relatively high temperature second chamber; a structural element between said chambers separating said chambers from each other; means forming a first air Ipassage in said element communicating with said first chamber; means forming a second air passage in said element communicating with said second chamber; means forming a first blower chamber in said element communicating with said rst passage and with said first chamber; means forming a second blower chamber in said element adjacent said first blower chamber communicating with said second passage and with said second chamber; and a rotatable blower located in said first and second blower chambers including rst blower elements in said first blower chamber for propelling air therethrough, second blower elements in said second blower chamber for propelling kair therethrough Iand a dividing element separating said first and second blower chambers to prevent substantial mixing of air therebetween.

8. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: means forming a relatively low temperature first chamber; means forming la relatively high temperature second chamber; a structural element between said chambers separating said chambers from each other; means 'forming a first air passage in said element communicating with said first chamber; means forming a second air passage in said element communicating with said second chamber; means forming `a first blower chamber in said element commitnicating with said first passage and with said first chamber; means forming a second blower chamber in said element adjacent said first blower chamber communicating with said second passage and with said second chamber; and a `rotatable blower located in said first and second blower chambers including a dividing element separating said first and second blower chambers to prevent substantial mixing of air therebetween, first blower elements on said dividing element in said first blower chamber for propelling lair therethrough, second blower elements on said dividing element in said second blower chamber for propelling air therethrough and ian' a-ir conduit communicating with said second air passage and extending through `said first blower chamber and said dividing element into said second blower passage.

9. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 2 wherein said blowers are mechanically interconnected for simultaneous operation.

l0. Refrigeratin-g apparatus, comprising: means forming a relatively low temperature first chamber; means forming a relatively high temperature second chamber; a structural element; means forming la first air passage in said element communicating with said first chamber; means forming la second air passage in said element communicating -with said second chamber; a refrigerating means associated with said element fior cooling said first passage to a lower temperature than said second passage; first means integrally associated with said element for moving finid through said first passage and through said first chamber; second means integrally associated with said element for moving uid through said second passage 'and through said second chamber; and a single drive means integrally associated with each of said fluid moving means for operating said first and secon'd fiud moving means concurrently.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,533,913 Booth Dec. 12, 1950 2,856,760 Walter Oct. 21, 1958 2,907,180 Mann Oct. 6, 1959 2,982,115 Wurtz May 2, 1961 3,005,321 Devery Oct. 24, 1961 

1. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS, COMPRISING: A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT; MEANS INCLUDING A CONDUCTIVE PLATE FORMING A FIRST FLUID PASSAGE IN SAID ELEMENT; MEANS INCLUDING SAID PLATE FORMING A SECOND FLUID PASSAGE IN SAID ELEMENT; A REFRIGERATING MEANS IN THERMAL TRANSFER ASSOCIATION WITH SAID PASSAGES FOR COOLING SAID FIRST PASSAGE TO A SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURE AND SAID SECOND PASSAGE TO AN ABOVE- 